The Central Institute of Classical Tamil has taken up fellowship project for ascertaining the “Ancient history and culture of Pudukottai up to sixth century AD.”
The year-long project aims at updating the important faces of the Pudukottai district with focus on bringing out an authentic history of the district.
J. Raja Mohamad, principal investigator of the project, said that a sum of Rs. 2.5 lakh has been earmarked for the project. His study would focus on tracing the pattern of early human settlement and economic condition. Religious beliefs and customs of the hoary past, study on old brahmi Tamil inscriptions and inscriptions of later period would be undertaken.
The district accounts for a large number of Megalithic sites, cave shelters of ancient man, he said adding that at least 100 villages were noted for megalithic sites pertaining to Iron Age culture. The chief villages among them are Thayinipatti near Narthamalai and Oliyamangalam near Ponnamavarthy and Kalasakadu near Pudukottai. He had so far visited 35 sites.
At the famous historical fort in Tirumayam, he conducted a study on the rock paintings. “The study will throw light on in-depth information about these paintings,” he said.
A former curator of Government Museum, Mr. Raja Mohamad has been conducting research programmes in various paintings and mural paintings at popular temples in the district, including Sri Athmanathaswamy temple in Avudaiyarkovil.
